Cuff-pin.



PATENTEDFEB. 2a, 1905.

P. E. PARNHAM.

CUFF PIN. APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

no, *zeaeer.

lhairnn Mamas Patented February 28, 1905.

Gianna.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,627, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed September 26, 1904. Serial No. 225,962.

To (h/Z whom it may con/earn:

Be it known that 1, FRANK it]. liAl-mimn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of .Rhode island, have invented certain new and useful lmprovel'nents in Culf-ilfins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cupped sheet of metal from which the blank of my improved eutfiin is cut. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the back of the said blank as cut. Fl 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4- shows in elevation the pin-tongue. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section of my improved cuff-pin with the pin-tongue shown in side elevation and in closed operative position therein. Fig. 6 a view of the hinged end of the cuff-pin and illustrates the open position of the pin-tongue. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the catch end of said cuff-pin as seen on the back side thereof. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of my improved cuff-pin.

My invention relates to the class of endpins in which a hinged pin-tongue is used as a fastening; and. the invention consists in male ing the ornamental front or body portion, with a catch, hinge members, and a hearing point or extension, all from a single piece of sheet metal, as hereinafter particiiilarly described, and specified in the claims.

In Fig. 1 is shown a plate or sheet of metal in which long elliptical cups have been formed by a suitable die and plunger. The blank from which my improved cuff-pin is made is cut from said sheet or plate of metal by means of a suitable die and plunger, and its two opposite longcurved edges are parallel to the two opposite long-curved edges of said elliptical cups. The blank so formed is shown in Fig. 2, and the opening near the top of Fig. 1 represents the hole left in the metallic sheet or plate when said blank has been cut therefrom. This blank (separately shown in Figs. 2 and 3) has the elliptical cupped portion a, the fishtail-shaped projection b at one end thereof, a straight barsshaped projection c at the opposite end thereof, and two oppositely-directed circular extensions (Z (l, projecting laterally near the base of the projection c.

The pin-tongne a used in my cuffnn is shown separately in Fig. t and consists of a cylindrical stem having one end formed into a sharp point and its opposite end formed with a head, sector-shaped and a little more than ninety degrees in extent, which has a pivot-hole near its curved edge about halfway between its ends f and The projection Z1 is bent along the line b and curved, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, T, and 8. This constitutes the catch 91/, the triangular portion a of said extension 7) shutting down inside the portion a, as best shown in Fig. 7. Thus a V-shaped slot or opening is left on the front side of the catch m, as seen in Fig. 8, while the bent-down portion v1 closes the rear side of the catch at, as seen in Figs. 5, 7, and 8. The bar portion 0 is bent inwardly to extend in the central longitudinal line of the body a of the cuff-pin and is curved to lie in contact with the inner surface of the body a as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, and constitutes the bearingpiece 0. The circular portions (1 (Z of the blank are pierced and are bent up to lie parallel with each other and constitute the ear pieces or hinge members 7) p. The head of the pin-tongue c is mounted between said hinge members 2) p on a pivot a, which passes through the pivot-hole in the head of said pintongue and through the pivot-holes in said hinge members 7) p.

When this cuff-pin is used, the pin-tongue a is first opened-that is, disengaged from the catch m. The end or point g of the head of the pin-tongue then is in contact with the folded or outer edge zfof the bearing-piece 0, as seen in Fig. 5, which serves as a stop to limit the outward swing of the pin-tongue. When the pin-tongue c has been thrust through the cloth, lace, or garment upon which this culfpin is to be Worn, the pin-tongue is swung upon its pivot s and close to the pin-body (t, the sharp point thereof passing down to and then through the V-shaped slot into the catch on, where said point is engaged and held, being prevented from passing through the catch to the opposite side by the guard or bent-down projection a, as seen in Fig. 8.

The pin-toi'igue e is made of tempered stock and is therefore resilient. \Vhen it is in its closed position, (shown in Figs. 5 and 8,) the inner point or end f then in contact with the bearing-piece 0 becomes a fulcrum of the pin-tongue e as a lever, so that by further pressure upon the pin-tongue inwardly the pin-tongue is bent or sprung sufficiently to enable its sharp point to enter and pass through the V-shaped slot into the catch m. When the pressure upon the pin -tongue ceases, said point by the resilience of the pin nearly resumes its normal straight form and moves up to the interior portion of the catch m, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and remains there in engagement with said catch with a slight outward pressure.

The inward bending of the part c of the blank to form the bearing 0, as already described, is of great benefit. The fold 6 gives a smooth-rounded edge, so that the lace or cloth of the garment cannot catch on it, as would be the case if instead of said fold or bend there were a sharp or angular edge. Moreover, if the stock were not thus doubled the great leverage of the head of the pin-tongue against it when the pin-tongue is open, as in Fig. 6, and power is applied to thrust the pinpoint through the cloth (especially when the cloth is starched linen) would cause said head to indent and bend outwardly the contiguous edge of the pin-body and destroy its symmetry and finish, besides which the pin-tongue would not be stopped at the proper angle in opening, but would soon be able to swing beyond the desired degree. (Shown in Fig. 6.) The bend or fold zfgives great strength and rigidity and entirely prevents all these difliculties.

In closing the pin-tongue into engagement with the catch m a very great leverage is exerted upon the fulcrum-point f of the head of the pin. This pressure and the consequent wear, caused by the swinging of this fulcrum point into position, are received upon the bearing-piece 0 at and near the end thereof. 1f the fulcrum-point 7" bore directly upon the inner surface of the cufl-pin, the repeated action of the fulcrum-point would cause an indentation of the stock, which would mar or destroy the pattern or design of the ornamental part. The bearing-piece 0 thus serves as a positive stop and not only presents a proper wearing-surface to afiord a suitable resistance to the fulcrum pressure, but also reinforces and strengthens the stock where the pressure is likely to produce distortion and injury.

It is usual in cuff-pins of this class to use a pin-catch made of a separate piece of metal, which is soldered on. The heat of the soldering operation softens the stock, so that it is easily bent out of shape after the cuff-pin has been repeatedly worn. In my improved cuff-pin there is nosuch difliculty, for not only is the solderingoperation dispensed with,but as the pincatch is integral with the blank and all parts are swaged into shape by die action the stock is hardened, and besides this the bends in the several directions indicated by the drawings give the pin-catch great strength and rigidity. So, too, in the usual construction of such pins the hinge joint is made of a separate piece of metal and is soldered on, thereby being not only softened, but rendered weak and very liable to breakage or distortion by the great leverage of the pin-tongue, which is pivoted thereto; but in my improved cuff-pin as the hinge members 7) p are integral with the blank they are strong and firm. The characteristic feature, however. of my invention is the bearing-piece 0, folded inwardly, as shown, and serving the uses already described. It is obvious that this feature can be used in connection with an ornamental pin-front or body portion with equal advantage, in which the usual C-shaped pin-catch and hinge-joint (or either of them) are not integral therewith, but are soldered on, as heretofore.

In gold-plated cuff-pins of this class, in which the pin catch and hinge-joints are separate pieces soldered on, the silver of the solder soon becomes oxidized and discolored; but as the pin-catch and hinge members in my improved cutf-pin are not soldered, but are integral with the body portion, my said cuff-pin presents a better appearance and finish, because there is no soldering of said parts. In fact, a plated joint and catch are not possible when solder is used.

In gold-plated cuff-pins having my said improvements the fold t presents an exterior gold surface instead of a raw edge of base metal.

1 claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The improved blank for a cuff-pin herein described, consisting of a body portion a, a projection 7) at one end capable of being bent into pin-catch, a bar or extension 0 at the opposite end, and two curved lateral extensions (Z, (Z at or near the base of the bar or extension 0 and capable of, bending into hinge members, all made of a single sheet of metal, substantially as specified.

2. In a cuff-pin, the combination of a pintongue having a sector-shaped head which is provided with an eccentrically-located pivothole, a pin-body having a hinge-joint to which said head is pivoted loosely, and a bearingpiece extending on the inner surface of the pin-body longitudinally thereof integral with said pin-body and properly curved and located to receive the thrust of the outer corners of said sector-shaped head, substantially as specilied.

3. In a cuff-pin, the combination of a pintongue having a sector-shaped head which is provided with an eceentrically-located pivothole, a pin-bod y having a hinge-joint to which said head is loosely pivoted, and a bearingpiece integral with the pin-body and bent in a transverse fold so as to extend along the inner surface of the pin-body longitudinally thereof and so curved and located as to receive alternately the thrust of the two corners of said sector-shaped head as the pin-tongue is swung outwardly and inwardly, substantially as described.

at. In a cull-pin, the combination of a pin- -tongue having a head, a pin-body having a hinge-joint to which said pin-head is loosely pivoted, and a bearing-piece integral with the pin-body and lolded inwardly in contact with the inner surface ol the pin-body and adapted to limit the outward swing of the pin tonguc and to receive the thrust of the head thereof, substantially as described.

The improved cull-pin herein described, consisting of the pin-body (1/, the catch m, the folded bearing-piece forming a positive stop and reinforcement, and the hinge members ,1), ,7), all made of a single piece of metal, together with the resilient pin-tongue 0 having a sec tor-shaped head with the points f and and pivotally connected with the hinge members 7), p, the radius of the pointf being longer than the radius of the point and the pointf' bearing on the piece 0 when the pin-tongue is closed and the point 1 bearing on said piece when the pin-tongue open, substantially as specified.

in testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two \vitl'iesses.

FRANK E. FA RNUAM.

\Vitnesses: V

WARREN it. Prince, l-lounuc'l) A. Lmurnnr. 

